How to prevent road accidents near schools and in residential areas

Road safety in school zones and residential neighborhoods is a collective responsibility and an urban priority. Every day, thousands of children, parents, and residents move through urban environments where the interaction between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles can create high-risk situations.

Preventing accidents is not only a goal, but also a commitment to safer and more sustainable mobility.

Some data on accidents near schools and residential areas

In 2023, 166,525 road accidents with injuries were recorded in Italy, resulting in over 224,600 people injured. This figure highlights how essential it is to strengthen prevention policies, especially in the most exposed contexts.

In particular, in 2024, 77 accidents involving children and teenagers were reported near Italian schools, confirming that home-to-school routes and surrounding areas are priority zones where targeted protective measures are urgently needed.

Main risk factors in school and residential areas

Among the most critical factors contributing to accidents are:

• mixed traffic: in urban areas, the simultaneous presence of pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, and vehicles creates a complex system that is difficult to regulate without specific interventions;
• poor visibility: blind curves, illegally parked vehicles, and intersections with visual obstacles reduce reaction time for road users;
• unsafe behavior: speeding, failure to yield, and driver distraction are among the leading causes of accidents.

Strategies to prevent accidents

Making roads safer, especially near schools and in residential areas, requires action on multiple fronts. We need carefully designed infrastructure, effective technological solutions, and educational initiatives to promote responsible behavior among all road users.

Infrastructure interventions

To improve road safety in school and residential areas, infrastructure choices play a key role.

Targeted and well-designed interventions can slow down traffic and protect the most vulnerable, such as children and pedestrians.

Some of the most effective solutions include:

• 30 km/h zones: lowering speed limits near schools has been shown to significantly reduce the severity of accidents;
• raised pedestrian crossings: these force vehicles to slow down, improve pedestrian visibility, and serve as a deterrent to excessive speed;
• well-maintained signage: clear vertical and horizontal signage, along with proper maintenance, is essential to reduce ambiguity on the road.

Innovative safety technologies

Alongside infrastructure improvements, technology is now a fundamental element in road safety.

Devices like Safe Join provide a concrete response to visibility issues at the most sensitive points in the urban network, such as blind intersections, school entrances, or residential streets.

This is an intelligent road mirror equipped with a solar-powered anti-fog and anti-freeze system that ensures clear vision in any weather condition, without the need for electrical connections or frequent maintenance.

Easy to install, Safe Join adapts to both public and private settings, representing an effective tactical urbanism solution to enhance safety in high-risk areas.

Education and awareness

Prevention also relies on awareness:

• School projects like Progetto Icaro are essential for teaching children and teenagers to respect road rules and take personal responsibility.
• Community involvement: information campaigns and training for parents and residents are effective tools for creating a more attentive and supportive urban fabric.

This approach also includes the Vision Zero model, an international road safety strategy based on a simple principle: no loss of life is acceptable. The goal is to eliminate serious accidents through safer infrastructure, road safety education, and innovative technologies.

The role of local authorities and schools

For prevention strategies to have a real and lasting impact, active involvement of institutions is crucial, starting with local authorities and schools.

Road safety must be an integral part of urban planning: SUMP – Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans are essential tools for developing effective interventions based on real data and innovative solutions, especially near schools.

This must be complemented by inter-institutional collaboration: only through ongoing dialogue between local authorities, law enforcement, schools, and citizens is it possible to identify the most critical areas and act promptly and effectively.

In this context, Safe Join stands out as a practical and sustainable solution to improve road safety: easy to install, it helps secure critical points in the road network, contributing to safer and more livable cities for everyone.

👉Find out how to integrate Safe Join into your municipality or company’s projects.